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Center opening soon
New building will have gym area, swimming pool
Published Thursday, January 22, 2009
The keys to the Opp Wellness Center will be turned over to hospital officials on Jan. 30.
Dr. Wheeler Gunnels said the U.S. Department of Agriculture will perform its final walkthrough of the facility that day.
“Then, once it’s done — they hand us the keys, and it’s ours,” Gunnels said. “It’s been a long time coming and something we all can be proud of.”
The project, estimated at $2.7 million dollars, has been in the works since 2006 and features a 13,000-plus square foot building that will house an indoor heated pool, equipped with handicap lifts; an exercise/weight training area, complete with everything from treadmills to state-of-the-art cardio equipment; a physical therapy rehab area; an education center/multipurpose room equipped with a commercial kitchen; a racquetball court; shower and wash room areas and office space.
“And let me tell you, if just half of the people who have said they’ll use the aquatic pool, do — well, we’ll have a pretty good membership,” Gunnels said.
No fee or membership schedule has been established yet, he said.
“We expect to make the move (from the Opp Micholas-Mill location) to the new building on the 11th and the 12th (of February),” he said. “So, it shouldn’t be long before we know exactly how much membership will be and what benefits go with the levels of membership.”
Gunnels said once the move is complete, it won’t be long before the facility can be put into use.
“This is a really great building, very modern in its design and the equipment and things to be offered,” he said. “I’d say a day or so after the move, we can open the doors and start seeing patients.”
Gunnels said crews are currently finishing the paving of the parking lot.
“I think when people open it up and walk through, they’re going to be impressed,” he said. “I know we are.”
Gunnels previously said that phase two of the project will consist of an indoor basketball court created using the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines that would allow the space to be converted to a medical needs shelter in times of crisis.
One of the main sources of funding is the Mizell Memorial Hospital Foundation, who has dedicated the proceeds of the group’s annual gala to the project. Additionally, funding was also secured through a low interest USDA loan and donations from private groups such as the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation and Alabama Electric Cooperative.
Comments
Posted by Andalusiawatchdog (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anybody know anything about the missing businessman found dead at the Andalusia Hospital Jan 1? How come no story about what happened? What gives?
Posted by cco (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe they didn't think it was any of your buisness.
Posted by Andalusiawatchdog (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"All crimes in a society are the business of it's citizens"
Ben Franklin~~~
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"We are all born ignorant,but one must work hard to remain stupid". Ben Franklin
Posted by nurse (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously, watchdog. I read your comments on the other story, but apparently the comments have been disabled. At good old Andaluisa Regional...there are no security cameras outside the back entrance, there is no active security detail at the hospital and rarely, are the police there. So...there ya go! If you are going to post something...you should at least know what you are talking about. But, please leave this family alone. There as a write up about it...a day or two after he was found. It was in the same paper that had the inmate's escape as the front page article. The situation with this man is indeed a sad one and we should all have respect for the man and his family.
Posted by Andalusiawatchdog (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess it was dumb luck that he picked the only area not covered by a security camera. Also, that fact was well known according to your statement. A fact that an insider would know. Why not the Florala Hospital? Fort Walton Beach Hospital? Why the Andalusia Hospital? After being missing for 3 days. I guess he drove around for 3 days, without being spotted, by this massive manhunt mind you, and decided he would go to the hospital to do this. Why any hospital? Was that a controlled area? By saying controlled, I mean was this a location that could be controlled by an insider? Who pronounced him dead? Or better yet, what person/s identified the body? What police officer/s arrived on scene and wrote the report. Did the police officer/s and the departed have any connection? Did the body go straight to the Funeral Home? Who transported? Was there a connection between the departed and the Coroner/Non-medical, Medical examiner/ Funeral Director/ Dog catcher? Was the body cremated? Why are they so sure it was suicide? Seems like family members would ask for an autopsy just to be sure. How would you know it wasn't murder and staged to look like a suicide? Why didn't the police department pursue this? Was there basic forensics done? It seems Nurse, that there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered. This doesn't appear as "cut~n~dry" as the police and others would like you to think. If he robbed a bank and killed himself in the process, would they report that? Or would they just say, "In respect of the family". I'm not saying there was foul play, I'm saying how do we know?
Posted by pathenley (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not going to address my comment to any one individual that has been writing about the death of a local business man , this is just my personal opinion -not meant to be one that "keeps that pot stirred" I just want the family to know I am sorry for the hurt they are going thru, and I pray the comments will stop about their loss. I know what a broken heart feels like from death of love ones. Cancer has taken 4 from me and my family..The period of time following -is one of trying to heal, and where children are involved , the healing process is one that kind words and prayers are important. What caused the death is of no importance to the survivors at this time, it's the loss only that has shocked us. God bless you family..
Posted by andalusiacitizen (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What does it matter to you? You act as if it's some matter that's personal to you. You obviously don't have any respect for this man's family. They are hurting enough and don't need you bringing this sort of thing up. You must have some vendetta for someone that you believe was involved, but this is not the time or the place to address it. Have some compassion and common decency!
Posted by Andalusiawatchdog (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just don't like.....INSURANCE FRAUD!!!
Posted by truebeliever (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What he dont like about insurance fraud , is that he or his family( son or daughter, wife)...is not reaping in any money he "thinks" in his demented mind that someone may be getting. -- Ya know dog, if we were to start digging around in your family, in the lives and skeletons of you and your kids closets what would we find? what is your son and daughter guiltly of??? or have they lived perfect lives? Have you? Has your wife?...have you always been the perfect citizen?...Has there been jail time for any of you? Court days?..felonly charges?..maybe we can find out and post them on here...NOW that would be news huh. I do have the resources to find this stuff out and just maybe i will.
Posted by Andalusiawatchdog (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You just might want to be careful Truebeliever......I may have superior resources. Matter of fact...I know I do!
Posted by truebeliever (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well i do believe i just hit a nerve.
Posted by Andalusiawatchdog (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just hope I don't hit a nerve....when I forget to "Double lock"! Ouch!
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by truebeliever (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 10:45 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)